Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1887-02-17

by giving me a specimen OF your handwriting,
as addressed TO myselfl Sit here at my desk.
As | feared, = she murmured, "a perfect fac
simile," bending over her as she wrote. ''WiIl
you believe me, Miss Lathrop, when tell you
never read those letters, and win you forgive
met Circumstances which cannot ex-
Plain At this moment the door opened
to admit visitor. The editors quick glance
rested with prolonged stare upon the ap-
preaching intruder, who in turn as Intently
stared upon herself
Then, was not mistaken" be said. offer
ing his hand with the utmost cordiality, a
courtesy, however, OF which she appeared uu-
conscious, the editor of the Crescent, and nv
old friend Henrietta Seymour, are one ard the
same"
"Aud you,a she eoldly questioned, eare
Rowland Browne, Jr."
II am that unhappy object OF your displeas-
IRE. Henrietta-Miss Seymour, you have
been laboring under great mistake; allow
me To-
mistakes again." she interposed, ''mis-
takes appear to be the order of the day But
this is no time either for reproaches or exp.a-
nations, Mr. Browne. Sufficient to say that
regret your presence, which under other cir
cumstsnces, should consider an insult. As
II is, can imagine its cause. The miserable
blnnder made by myself, connected with those
letters, has just come to my knowledge. Ii
was most singular delusion," she hesitated,
Il wish," she resumed, 'to curtail this inter-
view; excuse me, have business on hand,
just at present"
II am at your service" he replied. 81 win
then remain in the background for the
present"
This is most unfortunate Mr.. Browne, ex.
ceedingly unfortunate"
She passed TO the desk where Ida sim
awaited her Mrs. Blggs sat gazing at the
passers-by With frequent ordinations of sur
prise or pleasure.
Excuse me- Miss Lathrop, an acquaintance
whom have not met for several years, detain-
ed me-" She stood for some moments look
ing at the girl Certainly she said, 81
shall return your manuscript, and beg your
pardon. hardly see my way clear, vet. This
appears to be a most singular complication OF
affairs" She remained motionless, gazing
blankly into space
Can assist you," asked Ida II Would
SO like tor
Miss Lathrop, ! think you can. May I
take the address you have just written, I
would like this gentleman to see it, Mr..
Brown" she said, handing 1t to him, ''could
you swear that this is not your handwritipgl'
II could not, nhe replied, ''and yet am NOR
ally certain Of never having written IT,"
mo" she said, sit was written by the young
lady sitting at the desk. remarkable coin
cidencer'
Very he replied, gazing admiringly upon
MI off If hat la me
pearsnce. The gray brocade was perfect
success
''Miss Lathrop" said tine editor, may in
troduce Mr.. Browne, o. Brownyilie, Wiscon-
sinf'
Miss Ida Letitia Lathrop!,i exclaimed Mr..
Browne, with sudden inspiration.
"Mr. Rowland Browne, Jr. - murmured
Ida. 81 am indebted to Mr. Browne for quite
amount of stampsn
"And am indebted to Miss Lathrop for five
very charming letters"
"And l." said Mrs. Henrietta johnson. man
aging editor of the Crescent, Fam at the bot
tom of this trage-eomedy."
"Admirabler' cried Mr.. Rowland Browne,
Jr., ''and slrs well that ends wellr
Il am SO sorry TO have troubled you, Mrs
what name shall call youP' asked Ida Letitia
Lathrop.
''Mrs. Henrietta Johnson" blandly replied
the editor of the Crescent
Mr.. Rowland Browne, Jr, jumped to his
feet "Johnsonl johnson excuse me,' he
said, reseating himself.
Certainly, sir, replied the editor Of the
Crescent 'you are very excusable."
'Your NAV, Miss Lida,r said Mrs. Blggs,
joining the party, counted upon our being in
time for the train. She reckoned we ought TO
be at the depot at quarter past five"
"The trainl" exclaimed Rowland Boowne,
Jr.
yes" replied Ida Letitia Lathrop, ''the
Air Line.p
Excuse me, Mrs. Johnson-Mrs. Dionysius
johnson, presume, / also leave on the Air
Line, going East. And allow me to say that
agree with you in this, that the time for ex-
plantations is past; time, | find, does away
with explanations, as at present exemplihed."
Exit Miss Lda Letitia Lathrop, Mrs Hi
Bggs, and Mr.. Rowland Browne, Jr.
The editor, Mrs. Henrietta johnson, found
herself alone with the play ended, and the
curtain dropped She was decidedly bewild-
ed She had met this man who she believed
to have done her a great injury through
ridiculous mistake. They had met in the
most ordinary manner, and the subject of past
Observation-Disclosures had scarcely been alluded
to. Simply, she had been deceived, there had
been nothing Of e; she had cherished a delu-
sion. Or, In the changes of life, 10 injuries
become outlawed.
The editor Of the Crescent resumed her bon.
net, slightly out of style, truth to say, she had
no time for fashions. She wrote charming ed
itorials upon the aesthetic in dress, poetry and
art but she had no time for practical applica-
ton; and, sighinga little YEARLY, she de
scended the stairway.
''Dionysiusm she exclaimed, encountering
a gentleman of digniied appearance, "how
could you leave neutrality-suspicious."
Sand you, my dear, how can you so overtax
yourself. Come, the carriage is just here, and
dinner is waiting. James, drive by way OF the
Boulevards, It will materially shorten the dis
lance. If this were necessary, my dear; this
exposure" he added.
SIT is necessary for me-" she replied, deci-
siyely
Three months later, the marriage of Miss
Ida Letitia Lathrop, of Whiteside junction,
Indiana, and Rowland Browne, Jr., Congress
man-eiect from Brownville, Wisconsin, was
announced in the leading Journals
An interesting paragraph, furthermore sta
ted, that the fair bride, well known in literary
circles as most charming essayest, would I'M
doubtedly create sensation in Washington
society-Ndrtha Cornell Woodland, in The
Current.